■ Essential Question:
–What were the main causes &
effects of Manifest Destiny?
The period of time in U.S. history
before the Civil War is known as the
Antebellum Era (1800-1860)
What major changes occurred in America in the 1840s?
In the 1840s, westward expansion led Americans
to acquire all lands from the Atlantic to Pacific
in a movement called Manifest Destiny
“Obvious”
“Future”
Americans flooded
into the West for new
economic opportunities
The U.S. gained Texas,
Oregon, California,
and other territories
through treaty or war
Changes in the early Antebellum era (1800-1840),
encouraged westward expansion in the 1840s
When Americans were
colonists (1607-1783),
the western border was the
Appalachian Mountains
After the
Revolutionary War,
the western border
of the U.S. was the
Mississippi River
Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase
doubled the size of the USA
Lewis and Clark’s exploration
confirmed the economic
potential of the western territory
The growth of
“King Cotton” and
commercial farming
led to a desire for
more western lands
Changes in the early Antebellum era (1800-1840),
encouraged westward expansion in the 1840s
Improved
transportation
such as canals,
steamboats,
& railroads
increased speed
& profitability
Western state populations
The number
of
U.S.
The
U.S.
population
grew
300%
exploded
(Ohio’s
population
states grew from 13 to 26
grew from 50,000 to 1.5 million)
The journey West was dangerous and unpredictable,
yet thousands of Americans traveled along the
Oregon, Santa Fe, and Mormon Trails
“Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way ”
Emanuel Leutze, 1862
What kind of person made the journey into the West?
What can you tell about the journey into the West?
Why would Americans make the journey into the West?
The earliest pioneers were
fur traders, land speculators,
and poor farmers looking
for cheap land
Soon, farmers,
miners, ranchers,
and religious groups
flooded West
The Oregon Trail led thousands of farmers
to the fertile lands of Oregon in the 1840s
America: The Story of Us
Western expansion (start at 6.40)
The Santa Fe Trail allowed the
U.S. to sell goods to Mexico
After Joseph Smith’s murder in Illinois,
Brigham Young led the Mormons to
create a new settlement in Utah
Westward expansion brought conflict with Indians,
such as the Black Hawk War, as trails disrupted
hunting grounds and violated previous treaties
The Treaty of Fort Laramie created a
vast Indian Territory but was repeatedly
ignored by whites expanding West
In this image, identify three reasons Americans moved West
Identify three consequences of American westward expansion
What does the woman in the center of the image represent?
What point is the artist trying to make with his use of light?
America: The Story of Us Western expansion (start at 6.40)
“Life on the Oregon Trail” Excerpt #1
“Pioneers along the Oregon Trail averaged 15 miles per
day, almost exclusively on foot, for nearly 6 months”
Excerpt #2 “Covered wagons dominated traffic on the
Oregon Trail. The typical wagon was about 11 feet long,
4 feet wide, and 2 feet deep, with bows of hardwood
supporting a bonnet that rose about 5 feet above the
wagon bed. With only one set of springs under the
driver's seat and none on the axles, nearly everyone
walked along with their herds of cattle and sheep.”
Excerpt #3 “A typical day started before dawn with
breakfast of coffee, bacon, and dry bread. The wagon
was repacked in time to get underway by 7 o'clock.
At noon, they stopped for a cold meal of coffee, beans,
and bacon. Then back on the road again. Around 5 in
the afternoon, they circled the wagons for the evening.
The men secured the animals and made repairs while
women cooked a hot meal of tea, boiled rice, and bacon”
Excerpt #4 “When the Trail got crowded (in 1849 and
later) camping became more difficult. The biggest
problem was finding fuel for the campfires. Soon
trees were scarce and there was only one alternative:
buffalo dung. No one liked collecting it, but it did
burn and gave off a consistent odorless flame”
Excerpt #5 “Weather-related dangers included
thunderstorms, hailstones, lightning, tornadoes,
and high winds. The intense heat of the deserts caused
wood to shrink & rims to fall of axles. The pioneers’ lips
blistered and split in the dry air, and their only remedy
was to rub axle grease on their lips. River crossings were
often dangerous: even in slow currents & shallow water,
wagon wheels could be damaged by rocks or become
mired in the muddy bottom”
Excerpt #6 “Nearly 1 in 10 who set off on the
Oregon Trail did not survive. The two biggest causes
of death were disease and accidents. The worst disease
was cholera, caused by unsanitary conditions.
People in good spirits in the morning could be dead
by evening. Symptoms started with an intense stomach
ache, then came diarrhea and vomiting causing
dehydration. If death did not occur within the first
12 to 24 hours, the victim usually recovered”
Excerpt #7 “Indians were usually the least of the
pioneers’ problems. Tales of hostile encounters far
overshadowed actual incidents. Indian conflicts
occasionally resulted from trigger-happy emigrants who
shot at Indians for target practice. A few massacres were
highly publicized. The Ward Train was attacked by
Shoshones who tortured & murdered 19 emigrants”